massed practice: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Academic / Technical
Quick answer
What does “massed practice” mean?
A learning or training technique where study or practice sessions are conducted in a single, continuous block with little or no rest between repetitions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A learning or training technique where study or practice sessions are conducted in a single, continuous block with little or no rest between repetitions.
In educational psychology and skill acquisition, a method where practice trials are grouped closely together. It is often contrasted with "spaced" or "distributed" practice, where learning sessions are spread out over time.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is standard in academic literature in both regions.
Connotations
Slightly more common in UK educational research historically, but now equally prevalent in US contexts.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday language; high frequency in specific academic and professional fields.
Grammar
How to Use “massed practice” in a Sentence
[Subject] + uses/employs + massed practice + [to-infinitive phrase]Massed practice + of + [skill/topic]The + [adjective] + effects + of + massed practiceVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “massed practice” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- The tasks were practised massed.
American English
- The tasks were practiced massed.
adjective
British English
- A massed-practice approach
- The massed-practice condition
American English
- A massed-practice approach
- The massed-practice condition
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in training & development contexts: 'The onboarding used massed practice for software training, which led to quick familiarity but poor retention.'
Academic
Primary context. Common in psychology and education journals: 'The study compared the efficacy of massed versus spaced practice for vocabulary acquisition.'
Everyday
Very rare. A layperson might say: 'I tried to learn all the chords in one afternoon – it was just massed practice and I forgot most of it the next day.'
Technical
Standard term in sports coaching, music teaching, and clinical rehabilitation: 'For initial skill familiarisation, the therapist used a brief period of massed practice.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “massed practice”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “massed practice”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “massed practice”
- Using 'messed practice' (spelling error).
- Confusing it with 'master practice'.
- Using it as a verb phrase (*'I massed practiced the piano'). It is a noun phrase.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be effective for initial familiarisation or short-term performance, such as cramming for a test the next day. However, it is generally ineffective for long-term retention and skill mastery compared to spaced practice.
The main alternative is spaced or distributed practice, where learning sessions are interspersed with breaks or other activities over a longer period.
Yes, but often cautiously. It might be used for drilling a specific movement pattern intensely, but coaches typically combine it with spaced sessions to consolidate learning and prevent fatigue or injury.
It refers to the 'massing' or grouping together of many practice repetitions or trials in time, not to a large group of people practising.
A learning or training technique where study or practice sessions are conducted in a single, continuous block with little or no rest between repetitions.
Massed practice is usually academic / technical in register.
Massed practice: in British English it is pronounced /mæst ˈpræk.tɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /mæst ˈpræk.tɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Cramming for an exam is a form of massed practice.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MASS of people trying to practice something all at once in a single, crowded session – no space, no breaks. MASSed = no SPACE between sessions.
Conceptual Metaphor
LEARNING IS ACCUMULATING (a mass of repetitions in one place).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'massed practice' most commonly used?